Holly Sheep!!!!

There are many benefits and just as many draw backs of living in small town rural America.

I am not sure if this falls into the benefits or draw back or drawback category.

It did make my morning commute interesting

Yes, those are sheep!!!

They were herding sheep through the treacherous canyon.

This happens twice a year, moving the sheep from their winter to summer pasture and back again.

Yes, that is my windshield wiper...don't worry that I was taking pictures and driving. I was only driving 7MPH...we had a sheep traffic jam

I have no idea where the summer and winter pasture are but I knew they herd them through the canyon to get them there.

Welcome to my small town.

Momma Loves a Stick Shift

Do you ever have a random thought that leads to a whole conversation in your head?

Not like you are talking to yourself...okay maybe a little. Its more like you have one thought that leads to another and then you have a memory and then you have a whole flush of memories.

I'm sure you do have those moments were you mind is free to wonder around...although if you are having that moment like I did driving 65MPH through a dangerous canyon, then like me you need to stop doing that and pay attention. There is construction with big trucks and workers all over the road....gees girl.

In my defense my thoughts were about cars and driving it went something like this:

• I miss driving a stick shift
• Do they even make stick shifts anymore?
• Do they even teach kids how to drive them in drivers ed now days?
• I would traded my car in for a new modern stick shift that would be cool.
• Does everyone say stick shift? Do other countries call a manual transmission something else?
• Hee Hee I still drive like I'm driving a stick shift. One hand on the gear shift. One foot looking for the clutch.
• I miss my first car. It was a P.O.S.* but a cool P.O.S. because it was a stick.
• That car took a beating and keep on ticking.

This train of thought lead to a bunch of memories about my first car.

It was a great first car. The car was almost as old as I was...blue 1978 Toyota Corolla. I wish I had pictures to show you. It was a box on wheels. I often drove it around like it was a race car.

It was my grandmas car for years until she got in a fender bender, then it was my dads car, then it was mine all mine. *insert evil laughter* Sorry, I was challenging my evil twin there for a moment. I drove the car around for a few years until I decided  to roll it 3 times on the interstate. What can I say I was bored that day. Even after that it still started. I briefly considered driving it still but I managed to smash all the glass out of the windows and "moosh" down the top...so it really wasn't drivable.

That's what I thought about today.  What were your random thought about today?

*Just in case you are not familiar with this term P.O.S. means piece of shit. It is often used when referring to junky cars. I use it as a term of enderament I loved my car.

Silver Lining and an Oil Change

I am having a pretty good week...I got back from an awesome vacation to find out my car was fixed!!!! OH YEAH!!!!

Even better the mechanics were able to rebuild my engine instead of replacing the whole thing, saving me a little money. 

And even though it has cost me a pretty pretty penny or 299,202 pennies to be exact but it is fixed and to be honest running better than it use to run. 

So I am looking at the positive now. 

My car is a 2005 model and only had basic upkeep...oil changes and new tires so it probably needed a lot of things replaced sooner rather than later. And while it would have been economically easier to to have them fixed one at a time my car would have been in the shop a lot and that would have been frustrating to me. This way its all done at once and while I was on vacation. 

Now I have been thinking my brakes are still good but maybe I should look at replacing them...they are not new and probably the next thing to need replacing. 

Here is the list of what needed to be replaced and or fixed.

• Spark Plugs (The BF had offered to replace this for me, I just had not bought new ones)
• Spark Plug Wires
• Serpentine Belt (This actually needed to be replaced sooner rather than later)
• Water Pump
• Cheveron Dexcool Antifreeze
• Head Gasket Set
• Head Bold Set
• Timing Belt Set
• Intake Valves
• Exhaust Valves
• Red Label Valves and Guides
• Valve Guides
• Cylinder Head Rebuild
• Install and Size 8 Exhaust Valve Guide
• WIX Protec Oil Filter
• Oil Change (which was over due by a few 100 miles)

Car maintenance is important please don't be the dumb girl I was by not reading, at least the maintenance guide in, your owners manual

I Have a Timing Belt???

I had another post all scheduled for today but based on recent events I felt the need to bump it for this post.

Look its my car when it is working and pretty.

But I have a tale to tell...A very important tale that needs to be told. It is a cautionary tale not for the faint of heart.

I will start with a question...do you get your car serviced like you are suppose? 

I bet you think you do. I bet you are thinking I get my oil changed, rotate my tires, have an emissions test, and do all the other things you have heard about. But did you know that there is a belt in your car and if it brakes it can ruin your engine in a matter of minutes?

That's right if you have a timing belt and if you don't have it checked regularly or replaced when the manufacture recommends you have it changed you can end up paying thousands of dollars in repairs. I know this because it happened to me. 

On Thursday as I was innocently driving home, with the "Pseudo" Step-Kids in the back, my car made a horrible horrible noise. I tried to get home quickly knowing that whatever is about to happen next is going to be bad. But we didn't make it. Soon all the warning lights started to flash and my car stopped...just stopped. 

My car in happier times...despite the snow.

I coast to the curb, put the car in park. Told The BF the car was dead (I was already on the phone with him having called him the moment I heard the horrible noise). The BF said I am on my way at the same time the "pseudo" step-daughter started saying "MJ I have to pee really bad." 

Great just great I am stranded on a hot hot day with a 6 year old that needs to pee. 

I sent the kids to the local fast food chain to use the rest rooms and waited for The BF to rescue me. When he arrives he messes around with the car and tells me he thinks its the timing belt....WTF is a timing belt. 

I didn't even know I had a timing belt in my car. And no one ever told me I might need to get it changed. Not my dad, brother or the people that regularly do the maintenance on my car. NO ONE TOLD ME!!!!

Slightly less happy times but at least my car started.

This upsets me...I am not very car savvy person but I am not an idiot either. I should have been more proactive, I did the things to maintain it that I am suppose to do but I some how missed the part about the timing belt. 

When the timing belt decided to go it cause a lot of damage poking holes in pistons, water pumps and a bunch of other things that are under the hood of your cars. Which then costs over $2000 in repairs. 

Yup over $2000.

I am working on paying for the repairs....I think selling my kidney or prostitution may be the best solutions...don't you?

Please if you are reading this, dont let my suffering be in vain, go get your owners manual or look it up online but find out when you need to replace your timing belt. 

If you drive a Chevy Aveo...its 60,000 miles.

Denial the River in Utah

I don't know about you but I have a bad habit of pretending something doesn't bother me or that a problem doesn't exists or sometimes I have more money than my bank says I have in my account.

Most of the time its little things that are not a big deal.

Right now I am ignoring the fact that I have to put air in one of my tires every few days (sorry dad).

Not a good thing to ignore I know but I am very busy and need my car. So every morning I check the pressure in my tire and then go to the gas station on my way to work if it is to low. I have convinced myself that this is taking less than time than going to the tire place I purchased that tire from. Even though I know they would fix it...I have only had that tire for 3 months (thanks dad).

I figure as long as it is "safe" to drive it can wait a few more days. Like until Friday when I have more time.

Now that I have written and read this post I realize I am being very irresponsible...I am going to have to take time to fix my tire tomorrow.

Its good I blog.

The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

There are few thinks in this world that causes my heart to skip a beat and panic like having less than half a tank of gas in my car.

Its a very bizarre weird thing but I am constantly worried about running out of gas and being stranded so the moment I see that I half a tank of gas I immediately make a bee line for the nearest gas station.

Keep in mind that I have never ever run out of gas.

To be honest this fear runs deeper than just being stranded. What if for some reason I need to be able to get in my car and drive away and I don't have the means to get gas. I'm not sure when if ever this situation will arise but if it does it will be one of three scenarios...

1. I will some how end up being chased by a crazed Freddy Kruger/Michael Myers type lunatic and having enough gas in my car and being able to drive far far away is the only thing that will keep me alive.
2. There will be some kind of invasion like that on Red Dawn and making it to the high country to hide out is my best chance to fight with the resistance (WOLVERINES).
3. The Zombie Apocalypse will occur and I will need to escape to a less populated area to meet up with the other survivors.

Which ever it is I am sure you agree that I will need gas in my car.

What are the things that cause you to panic?

What is That Noise? What is That Smell?

Does this ever happen to you...you are stopped at a red light or the driver through window when all the sudden you hear a horrible noise and you patiently wait for the light to turn green or to get your coffee you pray and cross your fingers that its not your car?

I do that all the time. Even when I know its not my car because there was no noise until some vehicle is behind me but still I panic. I live in fear that something will go wrong on my car. I try and keep her maintained but to be honest she get neglected often. I get busy and forget until I hear some other car making horrible noises and then I am frantic with concern...then the car pulls away and I realize my car is good and forget all about maintaining her again.

Yesterday while driving my little red car I heard a rather startling and unnatural sounding noise (this is actually amazing since I have a tendency to play the radio loud and sing along to the music). Only yesterday I knew it was my car no one else was around.

So the panic starts...I immediately start telling The BF about the noise (he is very handy) he suggests it might be my brake pads...MY WHAT??? (My dad is very disappointed in me right now). He says he can fix them but as I drive though out the day I notice the sound only happens occasionally and then towards the end of the day more often.

By the time I drive home through the treacherous canyon I am in full panic mode wondering how I could possibly fix the problem . Then I notice a weird smell in the garage which I'm sure is coming from my car.

The BF takes my keys and drives my car around, comes home and tells me that he didn't hear anything...are you kidding me?? I said you have to roll the windows down and turn off the heater and radio. He didn't believe me so I make him drive around with me only my car is no longer making any noise and he claims he cant smell whatever smell I am taking about either.

He thinks its all in my head and there is no noise or smell.

This has actually made me very angry. I am not some hysterical person who imagined the noise my 9 year old niece heard it also. He claims its the Emergency brake and I need to use it periodically so it will do something or other...to be honest I stopped paying attention when he was getting technically. But I think its BS who ever heard of the Emergency brake making noise from lack of use.

Serious who has heard of this because I am still all in a panic about my car?

My Permanent Record

 Do you ever wonder what your driving record says about you???

I use to sweat about my driving record a lot when I was younger especially ever time I got pulled over and was facing ANOTHER ticket. As a younger drive I figured speed limits were more of a guide line and less of a rule of thumb so I was getting pulled over often. And every time I would be sweating bullets and wondering how many points do I have on my license and is this the ticket that will be putting me over and getting my license suspended. Luckily that never happened I was always just under the points (good thing they go away after so many years).

But I haven't gotten a ticket in over 10 years!!!! Yup 10 years. That's so awesome!! To be honest its not because I haven't been pulled over it is because I haven't been issued a ticket but I also don't speed around like drag racer anymore so I am breaking less rules.

But I think that all changed on Wednesday when I accidentally ran a red light. And it was truly an accident.

I was driving around in a city I am not very familiar with when I got lost. I am not sure how I ended up lost I was on my way home and I was looking for a coffee shop. The guy at the hotel told me where to find one and in my zest for caffeine I got lost. I was driving and looking around trying to discover my location when I ran a red light.

I swear it was green just seconds before but I noticed as I was driving under it was now red. I have no idea how long it was red and now I am sitting here wondering if my perfect driving record is ruined and I will be getting a ticket in the mail with a picture of me cruising through a red light.

Nothing to do now but wait and see. I hate waiting!!!!

Where are My Keys or A Day in The Life of Me: Part 2

I really thought after yesterday mornings "kicking" the dog, falling down and up the stairs the rest of the day would be SMOOTH sailing. And most of it was easy peasy. Went to work, had lunch, blogged....pretty good average day. So I was lulled into thinking that the worse was behind me or at least the abnormal parts of my day were over but I was wrong.

Everything was going well until I left work to go take my nieces shopping...oh wait we need to back up a little so I can tell you a very cute story.

Imaging it if you can its Monday night I am laying in bed watching a bit of TV when the phone rings. The caller ID shows my Health Nut Sister calling...but to my surprise it was my 9yr old niece.

"Michael, (notice no Aunt makes me crazy) will you take me shopping to go buy my mom a birthday present/"

"Do you have any money?" I asked even though I know she doesn't.

"Yes I have $8 I want to buy her shoes" (Translate: You will be paying)

"Okay whats your schedule like?" This is a necessary question to ask her because she has dance, soccer, tumbling and gymnastics. She is very busy!

After deciding we will go Thursday I hang up and go back to watching TV.

Less than 5 seconds later my Health Nut Sister calls back only this time its the 4year old, "Michool (Notice no Aunt) you take me shopping to buy my mom a present?" (Now I know I'm paying)

"Yes I will let me talk to your mom."

Mom and I decide Tuesday is a better day I will pick them up when the older one gets out of school.

So know its Tuesday afternoon, I decided to stop by the library and return some books before picking up the girls. While grabbing my books I shut one door of my car and try to open another one when I realized one  very important detail...my car keys are sitting on the front seat and all my car doors are locked!!!!

That's right I locked my keys in my car... that's next to impossible to do in my car but I managed to do it anyway!!!

To make matters worse my cell phone is in my purse that is also in my car!!!

Oh wait I have a spare key that just happens to be in my purse that is still i n my car!!!

So I ponder for a few minutes what my next course of action should be...I walked in the library and politely asked if I can use their phone. Luckily I am a frequent patron of the library and they allowed me to use the phone. I called my dad (his is one of the few cell phone numbers I know) and asked him to call me sister to tell her to pick up the 9year old from school since I couldn't at this point. I then called a friend and asked if I walked over to the police station (her husband is a police officer) would they unlock my car even though they are not suppose to do that anymore. She said probably cause I know some of them.

So off I go to the police station which thankfully is right next to the library and after much pleading and throwing myself on their mercy an officer (said friend's husband) unlocked my car for me. It was not an easy task but he was able to do so....thank goodness for the police!!! (Who says that lol).

After returning the library books I drive to my sister to collect my cute little nieces and to embark on a whole new adventure. 

I will tell you that story tomorrow. 

The Road Less Traveled by Me

Today I had to drive to a small town first thing in the morning for work. This is not all that new, I have to do that every Monday through Friday since I moved in with The BF but today I had to drive to a different small town. So instead of driving through the treacherous canyon I was driving through the dangerous wetlands.

Okay so the road is not all that dangerous but when I started on my super early commute the roads were wet and the snow was starting to fall again. And after 6 car wrecks I am a little bit nervous on roads I don't drive on often. In fact I am more at home driving in the city then I am on remote country roads.

With all that in mind I would like to share some of the random thoughts on my drive:

1. OMG....if I lose control of my car and end up in the water it could be hours before anyone notices the top of my little red car.
2. Why are their no guard rails? That is a river someone is going to end up in it.
3. How deep is that water? It looks deep.
4. If that's the Little Bear River where is the Big Bear River?
5. Oh wait that would be The Bear River...I wonder where that is? I think that is something I should know.
6. What are those people doing over their in that boat? Its cold and snowing!!! I bet its duck hunting season
7. Is duck good? Does it taste like chicken?
8. Why is this car going so slow the road is not that dangerous...some of us have to be somewhere.
9. Oh crap I am spending at that's a cop behind me....I hope he didn't notice.
10. I am really in need of about 2 more cups of coffee.

Luckily the cop didn't pull me over. I was only going 5MPH over the speed limit.

I also made it to my destination without incident.

Some days I worry that I may need some extensive therapy...today is one of those days.

Am I Drowning or is This a Zombie Attack?

Last night I did something I rarely do, I put down the book I was reading (despite being at a very good part) and went to bed at a reasonable hour. Shocking I know. But I was tired and wanted to sleep. So off to bed I go.

And I was having one of those really good sleeps...the kind where you would not wake up if a high school marching band was practicing in the room. It was so wonderful until....

I am rudely woken up by a horrible dream. All I remember is that I was driving a car and it drove off an overpass into a lake. Luckily I woke up before my car filled with water.

Why would my subconscious to this to me? I really need sleep lots and lots of sleep but 2 hours before I need to be awake I am wide awake and very upset. Now I am all confused, am I suppose to learn something from this dream? Is my subconscious trying to tell me something? Is is some cosmic warning? Is it a message from the future me?

Then I realize I don't care what it means I was wide awake at 4:30 in the morning. I should have been asleep getting the last bit of REM sleep and beauty rest. But it’s because of the REM sleep that I was wide awake at 4:30 A.M. Is that irony?

I cant imagine what the dream means. I rarely remember my dreams. I can’t remember the last one I remembered...oh wait the one were my baby sister may or may not have gotten eaten by zombies because she didn't listen to me. I wonder what that one really meant. I think it was in retaliation that she had a dream and I got eaten but velociraptor.

I wonder if those Internet dream interrupters are accurate. Oh wait I still don't care because I am tired and would rather sleep than get some weird message from my subconscious.

Maybe I will just avoid driving my car over any bridges for a few days, just in case the future me is sending me a warning.

Kick off your Sunday Shoes!!!

Today as I was driving home from work an oldie but goody song came on the radio. As I was cruising along and singing at the top of my lungs about how I need to cut loose, my mind started to wonder....well as much as I will let when barreling through the canyon at 65MPH.

As I wondered I realized I really wanted to start dancing, I mean how can you not when the song you are singing and listening to is all about dancing. But more specifically I wanted to dance like the final scene in Footloose (Whoa, I'm turning it loose). I wasn't sure I wanted to share with everyone that Kenny Loggins' Footloose makes me want to cut loose with my dancing shoes but I figure I cant be the only 30+ girl out their that wants to bust a move in her car just because a song from my childhood comes on the radio.

Of course that was until I realized that I often want to dance in my car. Or dance anywhere for that matter. They other day Pat Benatar's Love is a Battlefield came on the radio at work and I was shimming my shoulders like in the video. I want to do Michael Jackson's Thriller Dance and one day I know someone is going to say, "No body puts Baby in the corner." and dance off with me and the entire staff of some remote mountain retreat.

Okay maybe I am a little weird but just in case I am not please please please tell me the songs that make you want to dance. I don't want to be the only one who does this.

I Am Not Really Your Mother!!!

As you may have read I don't have kids. I have 2 "pseudo" step-kids and I have adopted a dog and a cat but technically I am no ones mom.

There are many reasons why this is the choice I have made but the number one reason is I don't want to clean up poo. Its gross. Even on a sweet little newborn baby or a little tiny puppy or kitty its icky. And for the most part I don't ever have to clean up poo. I pay my "pseudo" step-son to clean up after my dog and my "pseudo" step-daughter to clean up after the cat. And when I was with my nieces I would only change poopy diapers if NO one else was around.

Keeping this all in mind let me tell you what happened yesterday.

Every day I take my dog to my sisters house while I am at work. After loading the dog up and getting on my way I started to smell something rather gross. To be honest it was horrible and almost gag worth. At first I thought it was the many diary farms that are close to my house. Nothing smells as unpleasant as a diary farm on a hot windy summer day. YUK.

But nope that's not it and luckily at this time I realized I forgot my coffee and not being a girl who can survive with out coffee I went back home. I decided to check and see if my beautiful Tashi had stepped in some dog poo. And no she hadn't stepped in dog poo...she had laid down in some dog poo and it was all over her side.

I immediately dragged her out of the car to get a better look at her and the backseat of my car. Thank goodness none was on my car unfortunately it was all over Tashi.

Not having time to clean her off (and to be honest trying not to gag) I put her in the kennel with The BF's dogs because I am not so bad as to take her to my sisters covered in dog poo. And off to work I go.

Knowing that I cant lock a poo covered baby up in the kennel is why I religiously take my birth control pills.

They Made Me Cry!!

Look at the mismatch tires

Friday was not my day.

Okay so last week was not my week and Friday was really just the day the reduced me to tears. And I am not a crier.

Let me explain.

While running errands  I decided to put gas in my car (that way I can go straight home after work) when I noticed that my front passenger tire was looking low on air AGAIN. Having some time to kill I decided to run it over to the place where I bought the tires because they will check and repair them for free.

After calling a coworker to come pick me back up I preoceed to work and wait for them to call and say hey come pick up you car.

Only that is not the call I got.

The call I got was more omnious and depressing and reduced me to tears.

You see I have a big old crack in the steel wheel/rim that is causeing my tire to go flat. And this is very dangerous. So dangerous that they refused to put the tire back on my car. Instead they put on the spare which is not a true spare is one of those little donut tires that are dangerous to drive over 50MPH or drive on them for to long.

To make matters worse it is going to cost me $128.82 to get a "new" (read used) rim.

My poor car

Then I realised that I have to drive through a canyon that is only save to drive though in the middle of the day when its sunny with a donut.

After having the break down I so rightly desereved I went to pick up my sad little car and was even more upset.

I called my mom and said "I make fun of cars that look like my car." My mother started laughing. I dont know why I think she will be sypathetic she always laughs at my trama.

My Own Private Highway to Hell

I once had a college roommate ask if I was going to use my powers for good or evil after yesterday I think that question has finally been answered.

Yesterday evening I need to stop by the local mega store, as I was circling the parking lot looking for the closest space to the door a thought came to mind: I wish my mom was here so I could use her handicap placard so I can get a really good space. I would like to say this is the first time I have had this thought but its not. Often and I mean often I wish my mom was with me when I go shopping so I can get a good parking space.

But yesterday I hit an all time low. I went beyond wishing she was with me, I started wishing she had left her placard in my car so I could park in a good spot. But then I took it one step further....for a brief split second I considered going to my mom’s house and getting her placard. I then imagined the following conversation:

• Me: Hey Mom I am in your parking lot!
• Mom: Why are you calling just come in?
• Me: I need a favor.
• Mom: What?
• Me: Can I borrow your handicap sign?
• Mom: Why?
• Me: I am tired and there is no good parking at the store.
• Mom: (hesitatingly) I guess.
• Me: Can you bring it out to me?

Yup in my imagined conversation I wanted my mother, who is currently in need of a hip and knee replacement not to mention suffering from planters fasciitis, to walk from her apartment to my car so I would have a good parking space.

I am happy to say that none of this occurred. I finally just picked a parking spot and went into the store. However I am positive of two things 1. I am the laziest/most selfish person I know and 2. I am well on my way to joining the dark side.

Some would say it was only a matter of time. 

I Love the Smell of Napalm in the Morning!!!!

Today I had to go to the Auto parts store to get a new windshield wiper and I am going to let you in on a secret you can never tell The BF. Serious you can't tell him!!! Pinky swear you won't tell!!!!

I LOVE THE SMELL OF THE AUTOPARTS STORE!!!!!

I know it’s weird. I am not the kind of girl that upon meeting you would think knows where the local auto parts store is located let alone enjoys the smell of the auto parts store.

I am not sure at what point in my life this occurred but I also enjoy the smell of mechanic shops in general. It may have something to do with my obsession with classic Detroit muscle cars or just the smell of oil, grease, metal and tires. (Let’s not talk about how much I love the smell of The BF after he gets home from work as a welder).

I bet it all goes back to be A Girl Named Michael….

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let...Oh Hell No!!!

Yes I am going to talk about moving in with The BF again. I'm sorry if you don't want to read about it anymore but my life is quite and nothing is going on right now. It’s all I’ve got at the moment.

This morning as I was driving from The BF's house back to my house, I encountered a snow storm. And to be honest I am ready for some sun. And I forgot to check the weather on Friday and was completely under prepared, clothing wise, for the snow.

And I never really thought about winter driving in my Aveo everyday. For the most part I have avoided most the winter storms in my driving back and forth. And if there is one it was no big deal I just waited it out. But now that I will be moving there I can’t avoid driving in the snow forever. And even though they keep the road plowed it is still a scary place to be in a storm.

So I would like to ask Mother Nature one little favor could you arrange for it to snow only between the hours of 6:00PM and 6:00AM. I don't feel this is too much to ask.

Deer: Innocent Animals or Homegrown Terrorist Organization?

Sign on the Box Elder County side of Sardine Canyon

Deer annoy me!!! Next to The BFs dog I think they are the dumbest animals on the planet.(I also think cows, sheep and turkeys are dumb also but this post is about deer.) I can't see any merit to deer other than when prepared right they taste damn good. Actually I think they are the kamikaze pilots of the animal world.

Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure we are at war with wild indigenous animals in this country and don't even know it. The animals are probably angry that we have taken so much of there grazing land and in a unanimous decision they declared war on us. And in what appears to be a crazy move the deer have volunteered for suicide missions. The skunks are of course the equivalent to the road side bombing.

Sign on the Cache County side of Sardine Canyon

In our ignorance we do not recognize their constant suicide attempts as a terrorist act. We just think dumb animal and we put up "deer fences' that are ineffective and post signs all over declaring animal crossing. Of course the signs are useless when the deer decided to get between you and your destination by jumping into the road just as you are coming around a turn in the canyon at the posted 60MPH. At that point its to bad so sad hope your wearing your seat belt.



As I make my weekly trek through the canyon and back I have had a few close calls. I have driven through the entrails and blood of the terrorist deer after it was hit by another vehicle. I have seen countless corpses of these poor misguided creatures. I have seen the destruction they do to car, trucks and motorcycles.



ELK!!!! In Sardine Canyon

One time as I was driving home around 10:17PM I came around a corner and the deer turned and looked at me. After being startled and my life flashing before my eyes (and what a weird movie that was) I thought he/she was hitch hiking and I have a strong no hitchhikers policy. I watch a lot of TV and movies. I know what happens when you pick up hitchhikers. But now I believe the terrorist deer was trying to get the courage to jump in front of someones car/truck.

Someone should alert Homeland Security about the threat level RED in America's canyons and rural areas. Something should be done soon.



It Was a Dog as Big as My Car..I Swear!!!

No its not Betsy Lou but this is what she looks like!

I drive a Red Chevy Aveo, that I like to call Betsy Lou. Betsy Lou is often abused, neglected and left out in the elements but she is no less loved. She often has forgotten school papers, candy and food wrappers in her. You can honestly say she has junk in her trunk.  Betsy Lou is often in need of a bath and someone to clean out all the garbage. There is always dog hair on her back seat and sticky fingerprints on the windows.


But Betsy Lou is much loved. She is reliable, depndable and all the things a car should be but she is also has some traits that I find especially remarkable.

1. Gas Mileage. I average 35 MPG. I could get any better unless I bought a hybrid .
2. Its red....I look good in red so driving a red car means I always look good.
3. I can see over the top of my car. At 5 foot 1 inches this is really amazing to me.
4. Its low to the ground. I don't have to climb to get into my car.
5. Its small. Its rare anyone wants me to drive them around or borrow my car because its so small.

And last night I almost wrecked my car.  Your reaction to me almost wrecking a car will depend on a few things 1. How long you have know me and 2. How well you know me. For example If you only know me from my blog you will say, "OMG are you okay? What happened?" My family would say  'That's a 1st you didn't wreck a car." 


See how mean my family is!!!


In fact I have only wrecked 1 or 2 cars!!!


OKAY OKAY I have had 3 cars wrecked in my life. But that doesn't mean I am a bad driver...It means I have had bad car karma. And one of those cars was parked in front of my house and I was out of town so I am not sure how you can count that one.


And just because I have been in 1 or 2 car accidents doesn't mean anything


Okay so I have been in 8 car accidents.


I would recount all of the wrecks one by one but they all blend together into 1 giant mass of  PTSD...so lets move forward to last night. When I almost wrecked my beautiful little red shoe box of a car.


I was driving home from work when I notice out of the corner of my eye some very large black dog running through the parking lot of one of the many empty building in my small town. Having a premontion of some kind I starting slowing down my car when said monster dog darts in front of my car causing me to slam on my brakes but I still came within inches of hitting this substantially sized dog. The dog then stopped and looked at me over the hood of my car as if he was saying watch it lady. The dog then ran off across the street stopping traffic in all 5 lanes. Me on the other hand...I was very upset. I keep having flashes of my poor red car being damaged beyond repair. And I relived every car wreck, one right after another.

I immediately got home and texted everyone I know. Here is a sampling of the reactions from friends and family.


BF: good hell slow down
Penny: Well at least you didn't! thats scary. I almost hit a cat the other day
Step-dad: Careful
Sister #2: No bueno. Me and bay are at a japanese restaurant. I am gonna make her try sushi
Karrie: scary


Notice not one of my friends or family asked if I was okay or did I need to talk. Or asked what happened? And some even assumed I had some roll in this abnormally large dog roaming the streets with no colar. In this one instant I was completely innocent of all wrong doing. Lets not discuss why I was clear across town far from home driving a route that was not technically the way to my house from the office. Because that doesnt matter!!!!